John Burke sensei has produced a home study course Complete Karate to help people get their information up-to-date. You might find that it's a valuable resource to increasing your training depth!
Fortress Storming This is the book that I was forced to write. One of my students could not believe the junk she was reading in a certain other kata book and asked why there wasn't something on the market that held more sense. I tried to explain that everyone is entitled to their opinions, but she was a rational human being, and could not understand why anyone would want to believe that the first move from Bassai Dai was leaping forward to block an oi-zuki that couldn't possibly touch you unless you leap forward into it!!!
For a long while we only did this book for my members as a spiral bound thing. As we got more and more bookings for seminars we ended up having to have it printed and bound just to save time.
It's about Bassai Dai kata, featuring at least one application for every move, a bit of history, and a bit about pressure points. There's a foreword by Russell Stutely, Europe's premier pressure point expert.
£14.95
Peaceful Mind This was the next book, looking at the Heian kata that are usually taught to low grade students. There are many more people out there below black than there are at black belt and beyond, so it was wise to produce this for them. It also exists in order to brief higher grade (black belt) students in furthering their education and pushing their boundaries.
Forewords here are by Anthony Blades, Russell Stutely, and Patrick McCarthy
£14.95
Iron Horseman level 1 This one looks at the Tekki Shodan kata and provides useful applications to all of those weird-looking postures. This kata is much misunderstood. It's shortness of performance and the inability to use most of it's techniques in competition Karate mean that it is usually overlooked. In truth it's a work of genius, teaching the practitioner about close-in fighting. Arm-bars, chokes, and close strikes galore!
£14.95
Fortress Storming - the minor version
This book is brand new, published at the very end of November 2008. It features applications to the moves in Bassai Sho, Bassai Dai's 2nd degree black belt brother. So few people reach Black Belt, and even fewer get beyond it to really investigate the higher kata. This book acts as complement and comparison to the Fortress Storming book.
£14.95
The Pressure Point Guide for Martial Artists
Diagrams and photos of the points and how to use them. An introductory guide to pressure points, debunking some of the myths. This is the book that people keep asking me for. I think you should find out in class and at seminars, but people just keep asking, so here it is.
Very kindly, Russell Stutely renshi has raved about this book, claiming it's one of the very few things that he keeps on his desk rather than on the shelf.
£19.95
DVDs
December 2009, NEW the Pressure Point Guide for Martial Artists DVD You asked for it, we made it. The Guide in DVD form. Now you actually get to watch people getting bashed on PPs, as shown in the book. This is a 2-disc set. £37.90
SPECIAL OFFER While initial stocks last, the PP Guide DVD set can be had for the special price of £29.95:
Kata & Application DVD Series These DVDs are shot on location at the Karate Academy in Devon. They feature tuition by John Burke sensei and a variety of students and guests. Each DVD takes a look at the moves in a kata, and translates them into useable self defence situations. These "no-frills" DVDs just feature the bunkai; showing locks, takedowns, chokes and strangles rather than long range moves. Choose from the kata that you are studying, but don't foget the "more basic" kata, as these often set the scene for what comes later, and withoutone, you might not understand the other... Each is £19.95
Volume 2 - Heian Shodan. No marching forward against an attacker who's walking backwards. Plain illustration of why you'd want to kiai on a "block".
Volume 3 - Heian Nidan. No chair blocks. No kicks above the waist. See why the kata is presented as it is, and how it really works.
Volume 4 - Heian Sandan. Not kicking knives out of people's hands or sticking your fingers through their sternum, just some low base and throws that work.
Volume 6 - Heian Godan. The culmination of the Heian family. Time to find out what that "jump" is really for, and why manji gamae is NOT a simultaneous high block and low block.
Seminars
Our Vision is to offer the best products and services to our clients and students. To always exceed client expectations resulting in customer delight. Our mission is to provide highest possible quality at the right price.
Our commitment to offer nothing but the very best is reflected in our vision & mission statements. We exist because of our clients and students and we are very grateful to our clients and students who have made us what we are today.
We now strive to take our organization to the next level by supplying Seminars with John Burke sensei in person and his books and DVDs so that we can serve even better. To book a seminar at your dojo, call the UK 01626 360999.
John Burke's Bunkai Resources
Karate Academy, Unit A2/A3, Bradley Mill, Bradley Lane, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 1LZ, United Kingdom
Fortress Storming
Iron Horseman level 1
Our Vision is to offer the best products and services to our clients and students. To always exceed client expectations resulting in customer delight. Our mission is to provide highest possible quality at the right price.
